Toy arrangement

ABSTRACT

THERE IS DISCLOSED HEREIN A TOY ARRANGEMENT UTILIZING PRINCIPALS OF AERODYNAMICS TO PROVIDE AN AERODYNAMICALLY ACTUATED TOY OR DISPLAY DEVICE. A MULTIBLADED AERODYNAMIC MEMBER IS COUPLED TO A GENERALLY TUBULAR MEANS FOR ROTATION THEREWITH UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF AIR FLOW OVER THE MULTIBLADED AERODYNAMIC MEMBER. WHEN SUCH AIR FLOW OCCURS, THE AERODYNAMIC MEMBER ROTATES AND, IN SO ROTATING GENERATES A LIFTING FORCE. THE TUBE MEANS IS MOUNTED FOR ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT ON A ROD MEMBER AND AS THE BLADE MEMBER ROTATES, THE BLADE AND TUBE MOVE ALONG THE ROD MEMBER DUE TO AERODYNAMIC LIFE GENERATED BY SUCH ROTATION.

TOY ARRANGEMENT Y' Filed Dc," 2;, .196e sweets-sheet 1 .54v El 44 /M/NTO/es 26 MARTY C. Trae-Nr' f FRA/VK LQREED 11m.v 26,- 1971 M, C; TRENT. ETAL 3,557,411

TOY ARRANGEMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. '23. 195e /NVE/VTORS WOR/v5 y United States Patent O 3,557,477 TOY ARRANGEMENT Marty C. Trent, 3204 Barkentine Road, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Calif. 90274, and Frank L. Reed, 4731 Rock Bluff Drive, Rolling Hills Estates, Calif. 90274 Filed Dec. 23, 1968, Ser. No. 786,004 Int. Cl. G09f 11/02; A63h 33/ 40 U.S. Cl. 40-37.1 16 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to the novelty art and more particularly to an improved aerodynamically actuated structural arrangement adapted for utilization as a toy or amusement device as well as an advertising and display device.

Description of the prior art Many aerodynamically actuated toys and advertising devices have heretofore been designed and utilized. In general, such devices have incorporated a rotating aerodynamically shaped portion that, under the influence of air ilow, rotates and thereby generates a lifting force. The entire rotating member then rises under the influence of the air ilow due to this aerodynamically generated lifting force. Similarly, other types of aerodynamically actuated structural devices of the toy or novelty class have utilized an airfoil shaped member that does not rotate but generates a lifting force due to the air flow thereover. Such airfoil shaped members are generally in the shape of airplane wings or the like and the air ow thereover, according to the generally accepted laws of aerodynamics. generates the lift without rotation of the airfoil shaped member. While the structural elements necessary for such toy or novelty in display arrangements have generally been well known in the past, in general the cost of fabrication of such devices has .precluded their utilization as an inexpensive toy or as a give-away or novelty device to be associated ywith the sale or purchase of merchandise. Therefore, it has long been desired to provide an aerodynamically actuated toy or novelty device that provides a lifting force under the inuence of air flow and in which comparatively inexpensive structural elements are utilized. Further, it has also been desired that such arrangements be comparatively inexpensive to fabricate and comparatively easy to assemble, install, and utilize.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of applicants invention herein to provide an improved toy or novelty advertising and promotion device.

It is another object of applicants invention herein to provide an improved toy or novelty advertising and promotion device utilizing the principals of aerodynamics to generate a lifting force on the device.

It is a further object of applicants invention herein to provide an aerodynamically actuated device that is comparatively inexpensive to fabricate, comparatively easy to assemble and comparatively simple to operate.

The above and other desiderata are achieved, according to one embodiment of applicants invention herein in a toy or novelty device suitable for advertising and sales promotional functions and in which the device, in this embodiment, is designed to be installed upon the radio antenna of an automobile. In this application, suitable advertising and display portion may be included for display of some product or product name. Since automobile antennas are generally vertically oriented, applicants improved aerodynamically actuated device is mounted on the antenna for motion up and down the antenna due to the aerodynamic lifting force generated by the air flow over the aerodynamically actuated device when the car is being operated. It will be appreciated, of course, that the velocity at which the car is operated affects the lifting force generated under the well known rules and laws of aerodynamics and, consequently, the minimum speed at which the car is operated that will provide the necessary lifting force to provide such vertical movement will vary depending upon the structural weight and aerodynamic characteristics of the particular aerodynamic device according to applicants invention herein.

In this preferred embodiment of applicants invention there is provided a multibladed aerodynamic member mounted on a generally tube shaped means. In this embodiment of applicants invention, the aerodynamic lifting member may be considered as rotatably mounted on the tube member lwith the lifting force transmitted from the aerodynamic member to the tube member. However, the tube member is free to rotate with or at some lesser speed than the aerodynamic member depending upon the particular dimensional tolerances and t provided between the aerodynamic member and the tube member. Thus rotation of the tube member is not a necessary function in the successful operation of applicants invention herein. However, in this embodiment of applicants invention, the multibladed aerodynamic member must be free to rotate either on the tube or with the tube, the tube in such an application rotating upon the antenna.

Further, the tube means in free to move vertically on the antenna without binding or inducing excessive frictional loads. That is, comparatively loose t is provided between the inside diameter of the tube member and the outside diameter, at the maximum point, of the antenna.

In this embodiment of applicants invention, in order to minimize cost of the device, applicant prefers that the multibladed aerodynamic member be fabricated from flat sheet stock of a resilient and deformable material such as a paper, plastic coated paper, or plastic having these characteristics. The form of the multibladed aerodynamic member, in this embodiment, is in the form of a pinwheel type of arrangement in which four blades are provided and each blade is generally in the form of a loop having a top portion and a bottom portion in spaced apart relationship and all the top portions and all the bottom portions coupled together in a spaced apart relationship and mounted upon the tube member to be retained in this spaced apart relationship. The tube mem- -ber may have indents in which walls defining apertures in the top portions and bottom portions of the blades are mounted, or, to minimize costs, darts or arrowheads may be conveniently provided on the tube member to allow installation of the blade onto the tube but to resist movement of the aerodynamic member from the tube after assembly. In this latter structural arrangement,

preferred by applicants, the tube does not necessarily rotate with the multibladed aerodynamic member, though it may under frictional loading, but the lift forces developed during the rotation of the aerodynamic lifting member press against the uppermost of the darts on the tube member to thereby lift the multibladed member and the tube member up the antenna while the car is being operated at or above a given speed.

Therefore, rotation of the pinwheel shaped multibladed aerodynamic device generates an aerodynamic lifting force that causes the multibladed aerodynamic member, the tube means and any advertising or display device mounted thereon to rise up the antenna. Suitable stop means may be provided adjacent the top and bottom of the antenna to limit the vertical movement of the aerodynamic member to prevent it from flying off the antenna at high speeds and to prevent it from falling at low or zero speeds to a position where it would impinge upon structural portions of the automobile. The stop means may Ibe comparatively inexpensive frictionally retained devices that are easily installed upon the antenna.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other embodiments of applicants invention herein may be more fully understood with reference to the accompanying drawings when similar reference characters refer to similar elements throughout and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of applicants invention herein;

FIG. 2 illustrates a stop means useful in the practice of applicants invention herein;

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a tube member useful in the practice of applicants invention herein;

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 illustrate other embodiments of tube-like members useful in the practice of applicants invention herein;

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of applicants invention herein;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the embodiments shown in FIG. 6 taken along the lines 7--7 thereof;

FIG. 8 illustrates a multibladed aerodynamic member useful in the practice of applicants invention herein;

FIG. 9 illustrates another multibladed aerodynamic member useful in the practice of applicants invention herein;

FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment of applicants invention herein;

FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 illustrate another embodiment of applicants invention herein;

FIG. 13 illustrates another embodiment of applicants invention herein; and

FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate a display device useful in the practice of applicants invention herein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown the structure associated with one embodiment of an aerodynamically operated novelty device, generally designated 10 according to the principals of applicants invention herein. As shown on FIG. 1, the aerodynamically operated novelty device 10 comprises a multibladed aerodynamic member 12 which is adapted to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow 14 when subjected to an airstream moving thereacross in the direction indicated by the arrow 16. When such a relative airstream as indicated by the arrow 16 moves across the multibladed aerodynamic member 12 the multibladed aerodynamic member 12 generates a lift force in the direction indicated by the arrow 18. It will be appreciated that under the principals of aerodynamics the lift force indicated by the arrow 18 is a function of the velocity of the airstream indicated by the arrow 16. Therefore, in accordance with the principals of applicants invention herein, the lift force 18 will achieve a certain preselected minimum value for a minimum airstream 16 velocity. As described below in greater detail, the minimum aerodynamic lift force 18 is defined herein as that suliicient to cause the aerodynamically operated novelty device 10 to move upwardly in the direction indicated by the arrow 18.

In this embodiment of applicants invention the multibladed aerodynamic member 12 is mounted for rotary motion on a generally tube-like means 20 and the multiblade aerodynamic member 12 is in lift force transmittal relationship to the tube member 20 so that when the lift force 18 is generated means are provided to transmit the lift force 18 from the multibladed aerodynamic member 12 to the tube-like means 20.

There may also be provided, if desired, and as shown on FIG. 1, a display means 22 mounted on the generally tube-like means 20. While shown on FIG. 1 as being mounted above the multibladed aerodynamic member 12, it will be appreciated that the display means 22 could equally well be mounted below the multibladed aerodynamic member 12 on the tube-like means 20.

In this embodiment of applicants invention the generally tube-like means 20 is mounted on a roi which, in this embodiment of applicants invention, may be an automobile antenna 24 and the tube-like means 20 moves up and down the antenna 24 under the influence of the lift forces 18 generated by the rotating multibladed aerodynamic member 12. The antenna 24 may, of course, be mounted on an automobile 26 and thus be of conventional design. It will be appreciated that the particular rod such as the antenna 24 selected for utilization with the aerodynamically operated novelty device 10 is a matter of choice and that the antenna 24 or the rod upon which the aerodynamically operated novelty device 10 is positioned does not form a part of applicants invention herein.

When the aerodynamically operated novelty device 10 is mounted upon an antenna, or other rod, it may be desirable, in some applications, to provide stop means for limiting the vertical excursion of the aerodynamically operated novelty device during periods of lift and at rest. Thus, a pair of stop means 28 and 30l which, if desired, may be identical or substantially similar, may be included to be positioned on the antenna 24 at desired spaced apart locations.

It will be appreciated that the multibladed aerodynamic member 127 in this embodiment of applicants invention, is mounted for generally rotary motion on tube-like member 20. However, under the influence of the airstream 16 and as described below in greater detail, the generally tube-like means 20 may also rotate about its long axis due to frictional contact with the multiblade aerodynamic member 12. However, the percentage slip that is the difference in rotational rates between the tube-like member 20 and the multibladed aerodynamic member 12 is comparatively unimportant to successful operation of applicants invention herein. If there is zero slip, that is, if the generally tube-like means 20 is rotating through frictional contact with the multibladed aerodynamic member 12 at the same rotational rate, then there will be minimum frictional losses and the lift force 18 generated will be the maximum for a given airstream velocity 16. However, if there is some slip greater than zero and up to one hundred percent slip, that is, where the tube-like means 20 does not rotate while the multibladed aerodynamic member 12 does rotate there will be the maximum friction and consequently the minimum lift force necessary to move the aerodynamically operated novelty device 10 upwardly as indicated by the arrow 18 will not be achieved until the airstream velocity as indicated by the arrow 16 is greater.

FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred form of the generally tube-like means 20 according to applicants invention herein. The tube-like means 20 is comprised of a generally tubular body member 32 having a preselected internal diameter to its internal surface 34 and a preselected external diameter to its external surface 36. The internal diameter 34 is sufficiently greater than the maximum diameter of the rod such as the antenna 24 upon which the aerodynamically operated novelty device is mounted so that free rotation and minimum friction may be obtained so that the tubular body portion 32 is free, if desired, to both rotate on the antenna 24 as well as move freely in vertical directions thereon.

Coupled to the external surface 36 of the tube-like means applicant has provided a plurality of retainer means 38, 40, 42 and 44. The retainer means are in spaced apart relationship and are utilized to restrain the multibladed aerodynamic member 12 on the tube-like means 20 in preselected locations thereon as well as to restrain the display device 22 on the tube-like means 20 in a preselected location thereon. The first pair of restraining means 38 and 40 are utilized to restrain the display device 22 in the preselected location on the tubel like means.

In this embodiment of applicants invention, the restraining means 38, 40, 42 and 44 take the form of arrowhead or triangular shaped tabs that are yieldably deformable for reasons hereinafter set forth. That is, the triangular shaped tabs defining the restraining means 38, 40, 42 and 44 may be deformed from the shape shown but then resliently returned to the shape shown after such deformation.

While the size of all of the tabs defining the restraining means 38, 40, 42 and 44 may be the same, that is extend from the outer surfaces 36 of the tube portion 32 a same preselected distance, in a preferred embodiment of applicants invention the first restraining means 38 of the first pair and the first restraining means 44 of the second pair of restraining means are smaller, that is, extend less of a distance outwardly from the external surface 36 of the tube-like means 20 than do the second of the restraining means 40 of the first pair and the second of the restraining means 42 of the second pair. The reasons for having the smaller ones adjacent the ends of the tube-like member 20 will become apparent from the description presented below concerning the installation of the multibladed aerodynamic member 12 and display device 22 thereon.

FIG. 4 illustrates another tube-like means 50 that could be utilized in the practice of applicants invention herein. As shown, the tube-like means 50 is in the shape of a generally tubular means having an internal diameter defining an internal surface 52 and an external diameter defining an external surface 54. In this embodiment of applicants invention, restraining means are provided on the tube-like means 50 and the restraining means comprise a plurality of grooves 56, 58, 60 and 62 on the external surface 54 of' the tube-like means 50. Portions of the multibladed member and the display means snap into the respective grooves 60 and 62 comprising the first pair for support of the multibladed aerodynamic member and the grooves S6 and 58 comprising a second pair for restraining the display device in its preselected location.

FIG. 5 illustrates yet another embodiment of a tubelike means generally designated 60 that may be useful in the practice of applicants invention herein. The tubelike means 60 is generally tubular in shape and has an internal diameter defining an internal surface 62 and an external diameter defining an external surface 64.

Restraining means 66, 68, 70, 72 and 74 are coupled to the external surface 74 and, in this embodiment of applicants invention, comprise raised ring-like ridges thereon. One portion of the multibladed aerodynamic member is restrained between the restraining means 70 and 72 and the other portion within the restraining means 74. Similarly, one portion of the display device is restrained between the restraining means 66 and another portion between the restraining means 68 and 70 in order that both the display device and the multibladed aerodynamic member may be suitably restrained in preselected locations on the tube-like means 60. In this embodiment of applicants invention, the amount that each of the restraining means 66, 68, 72 and 74 extend from the preselected surface 64 is the same and the amount that the restraining means 70 extends is greater than the other restraining means for reasons as hereinafter set forth.

As noted above in the discussion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, applicant prefers to use stop means such as stop means 28 and 30 which, for example, may be identical on the rod such as the antenna 24 to limit the movement of the aerodynamically operated novelty device 10. FIG. 2 illustrates a preferred form of such a stop means, which in this embodiment of applicants invention takes the form of a retaining clip. The retaining clip has first walls 76 defining an aperture 78 therethrough and second `walls 80 defining a plurality of slits therethrough forming a star shaped pattern.

To install the clip or stop means 28 on the antenna 24 the clip is first bent into a U-shaped form so that the slits are over the aperture 78 and then it is slid onto the antenna through the aperture 78 and pushed through the slits 80. The slits 80 operate as finger-like tabs after installation on the antenna to restrain movement of the stop means 28 after such installation. This is a frictional retention and upon application of suitable force such as lby manual means the stop means 28 or :the stop means 30 may be suitably removed from the antenna when desired.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate another embodiment of applicants invention and, in particular, a unitized construction of the tube-like means and the display means. In this embodiment of applicants invention, the tube-like means generally designated is formed from two pieces of opposed sheet stock bonded together in preselected locations. That is, as seen by FIGS. 6 and 7 there is a first portion 92 and a second portion 94 comprising the tube-like means 90 and each is originally a substantially fiat sheet like member bonded together except along a center portion 96 that is ultimately utilized to define the tube portion. In this embodiment of applicants invention a two-sided display means such as the display means 98 is part of the two pieces of sheet stock 92 and 94 as are the restraining means 100 and 102 which, for example, may be similar in design and operation to the restraining means 38, 40, 42 or 44 shown in FIG. 3. The multibladed member such as the multibladed aerodynamic member 12 shown on FIG. 1 may be installed between the restraining means 100 and the upper portion 104 of the restraining means 102 and between the lower portion 106 of the restraining means 102 and the display means 98, so that rotation of the areodynamic member moves the entire tube-like means 90 in directions indicated by the arrow 110. Thus, in this embodiment of applicants invention the display device is disposed vertically below the rotating aerodynamic member. The multibladed aerodynamic member may be rotatably mounted, as shown, on the tube-like means 90 or may be afiixed thereto so that rotation of the multibladed member rotates the tubelike means 90.

The tube-like means 90, as noted above, is formed from fiat sheet stock bonded together in preselected locations which is their coextensive area save and except for the area forming the tube means 96. After they are so bonded together a tube member 112 is inserted into the unbonded area 96 and spreads apart the tube portions 92 and 94 to form the tubular portions thereof. The tube member 112 has an internal diameter defining an internal surface 114 that is adapted to fit over a rod, such as the antenna 24 shown in FIG. l.

As noted above, applicants prefer that the entire aerodynamically operated device be fabricated from comparatively inexpensive materials in a comparatively inexpensive process in order that the cost may be kept sufficiently low that it may be used for a toy of short life duration or give-away advertising and promotional activities. Accordingly, applicants prefer to form the multibladed aerodynamic member 12 shown on FIG. 1 from at sheet stock if possible. FIG. 8 illustrates one form of the aerodynamic member 12 in at sheet stock form before being folded into the configuration shown on FIG. 1. As shown on FIG. 8, the multibladed aerodynamic member 12 is formed from a generally square piece of fiat sheet stock in which there are a plurality of cuts 120 terminating in stress relief apertures 122 extending through the sheet stock defining the multibladed aerodynamic member 12.

Walls 124 defining a plurality of tube-like means receiving apertures 126 are provided in each of the corners of the square flat pattern dening the multibladed member 12. Walls 128 defining central tube-like means receiving aperture 130 are also provided. In order to form the flat sheet stock 12 shown in FIG. 8 into the multibladed aerodynamic member shown in FIG. 1, each of the corners are bent over to dene an upper portion 132 until the apertures 126 are aligned with the aperture 130. The cuts 120 allow this formation and thus the upper portions 132 are spaced apart from the bottom portion 134 adjacent the aperture 130.

In the preferred embodiment of applicants invention as shown in FIG. 8 and when utilized on the tube-like means shown in FIG. 3, applicants prefer that the apertures 126 be larger than the aperture 130. Thus, this will provide visual aid in assembling the now folded multibladed aerodynamic member 12 onto the tube-like means 20 by allowing comparatively easy movement of the apertures 126, since they are comparatively large, over the restraining means 44 so that the upper portions 132 abut against the restraining means of 42. The restraining means 42 are larger than the apertures 126. As noted above it is preferred that all the restraining means 38, 40, 42 and 44 be resiliently deformable to allow passage of the apertures thereover. The aperture 130 then resiliently deforms the restraining means 44 as it is slid thereover and is retained by abutment thereagainst. Applicants have found that forces induced during the operation of the multibladed aerodynamic member 12 are such that when bent into the position shown in FIG. 1, the blades need to be supported both from collapsing towards each other and from spreading apart. The restraining means 42 and 44 effectively prevent the further spreading apart of the upper portions 132 from the lower portions 134 and applicants prefer that the material from which the multi- As an aid to visualizing the manner in which the flat sheet stock shown in FIG. 8 is formed into the aerodynamic member 12, the point 136 forms one pointed portion of one of the four blades, the point 138 forms the corresponding point 138 on another blade, the point 140 forms the corresponding point 140 on another blade and the point 142 forms the corresponding point on the fourth blade.

While applicant has indicated above that the multibladed aerodynamic member 12 is a rotating device to provide lift during such rotation, it will be appreciated that a non-rotating multibladed member may also be provided to generate the lift.

FIG. 9 illustrates a multibladed airfoil shaped aerodynamic member 148 that, in the presence of an airstream indicated by the arrow 150 generates a lift force in the direction indicated by the arrow 152. The multibladed member 148 has a rst blade 154 on one side of the walls 156 defining a tube-like means receiving aperture 158 and another blade 160 on the other side thereof so that it is balanced. The non-rotating multibladed aerodynamic member 148 may be installed on any of the tube-like means described above and be suitably retained thereon by any desired selected method. However, applicants have found that for display devices the rotating multibladed aerodynamic member provides greater visual impact and may be considered a preferred embodiment of applicants invention.

Further, as noted above, the multibladed rotating aerodynamic member may be installed directly on a rod for rotation thereon without ultization of an intermediate tube-like means. FIG. l0 illustrates one embodiment of applicants invention generally designated 160 incorporating such a structure. A multibladed aerodynamic member 162 which may be similar to the multibladed aerodynamic member 12 shown in FIGS. 1 and 8 is provided. However, in this embodiment of applicants invention, the area immediately surrounding the tube receiving apertures is split so that tab-like means 164 adjacent the bottom portion 166 of the multibladed aerodynamic member 162 may be provided and similar tab-like means 168 adjacent each upper portion may similarly be provided so that when properly bent as shown in FIG. 10, the tabs 168 and 164 form a bearing surface which may be considered as the equivalent of the tube-like means described above to allow rotation of the multibladed member 162 on, for example, a rod 172 shown in dotted line on FIG. l0.

It will be appreciated that the tabs 164 and 168 may be provided in embodiments where a separate tube-like means is also included. FIG. 13 illustrates one embodiment generally designated in which a multibladed aerodynamic member 162 which generally may be similar to the aerodynamic member 162 shown in FIG. 10 is provided. In this embodiment the top portion 170 is provided with tab-like means 168 that, in this embodiment of applicants invention, are bonded to a tube-like means 182 which may be inserted on any desired rod. Bonding of the tab means 168 to the tube-like means 182 ensures that there will be no slip between the rotating multibladed aerodynamic member 162 and the tubelike means 182. Operation of the embodiment of the aerodynamically operated display device 180 then is the same as described above.

FIGS. l1 and 12 illustrate another embodiment of applicants aerodynamically operated display device generally designated 200 in which there is provided a multibladed aerodynamic member 202 which, for example may be generally similar in form and contiguration to the aerodynamic member 12 shown in FIGS. 1 and 8. The aerodynamic member 202 is mounted for rotary motion on a tube-like means 204 which is provided with shoulder means 206 and 208 to restrain the upper portion 210 and the bottom portion 212, respectively, of the aerodynamic member 202 from spinning further apart and restraining it on a preselected location on the tube-like means 204. A thin sectioned coupler means 214 having appropriate arrowhead restrainer means 216 at each end goes through the upper portions 210 and lower portion 212 of the aerodynamic member 202 and they act in a manner substantially identical to the action described above in connection with the restraining means 38, 40, 42 and 44. Appropriate apertures are provided in the upper portions 210 and the lower portion 212 to allow insertion of the coupling member 214 therein.

The display device shown on FIGS. 6 and 7 is a generally two-sided flat display device. However, the display device shown on FIG. 1 is a generally multisided display device 22 and, for economy, applicant prefers that the display device 22 also be fabricated from flat sheet stock. FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate details concerning the structural arrangement of the display device 22. As shown thereon the display device 22 has three faces 220, 222 and 224. Each of the faces 220, 222 and 224 are provided with an upper connector portion 226 and a lower connector portion 228. The top connector portions 226 are each provided with walls 230 delining tube-like means receiving apertures 232. Similarly the bottom connector portions 228 are provided with walls 234 defining tube receiving apertures 236 therethrough. In order to form the display device 22 into the configuration shown on FIG. 1 wherein it is rotatably mounted on tube means 20, the upper tabs 226 and lower tabs 228 are folded J along the fold lines indicated by the dotted lines 238 and then the display device 22 is folded along the fold lines indicated by the dotted lines 240 to form it into the generally triangular prismatic shape shown in FIG. 14. In this shape each of the upper tube-like receiving apertures 232 and lower tube-like receiving apertures 236 are aligned so that they may be inserted on to the tube member and be restrained thereon by the first pair of restraining means 38 and 40. Once again the bottom portion tube receiving apertures 236 may be made larger than the upper connecting portion apertures 232 to allow convenience in assembly. The end tabs 250 and 252 may, if desired, be bonded together after assembly. While the display device 22 is shown as free to rotate upon the tube member 20, it will be appreciated that it may be aixed thereto in any of the manners described above for fixing, for example, multibladed member on its conventional tube-like means.

This concludes the description of applicants invention of an improved aerodynamically operated display device. From the above it can be seen that applicants have provided a comparatively low cost aerodynamically actuated display device that may be readily installed on, for example, an automobile antenna and provide true aerodynamic operation of movement in a vertical direction due to the horizontal flow of air thereover.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

We claim:

1. An aerodynamically operated novelty device of the type adapted to move in vertical directions on a rod and comprising, in combination:

a multibladed aerodynamic member for movement in an airstream and said multibladed aerodynamic member generating a lift force having a first preselected minimum value for the condition of said airstream having a relative velocity thereover greater than a first preselected airstream velocity;

a generally tube-like means mounted on said multibladed aerodynamic member in lift force transmitting relationship thereto for vertical movement therewith, and having a preselected internal dimension greater than the external dimension of the rod, and said generally tube-like means mounted on the rod for generally vertical upward movement on the rod for the condition of said lift force greater than said predetermined minimum value; and

display means mounted on said tube-like means for at least vertical movement therewith.

2. The arrangement defined in claim 1 and further comprising:

a pair of stop means mounted on the rod in spaced apart relationship for limiting the vertical excursion of said multibladed aerodynamic member.

3. The arrangement defined in claim 1 wherein:

said multibladed aerodynamic member rotates in the airstream to generate said lift force.

4. The arrangement defined in claim 3 wherein:

said multibladed aerodynamic member is mounted for rotary movement on said tube-like means; and

said display means is mounted on said tube-like means for rotary motion thereon.

5. The arrangement defined in claim 3 wherein:

said display means and said tube-like means are coupled together and said multibladed aerodynamic member is mounted for rotary motion on said tubelike means.

6. The arrangement defined in claim 3 wherein:

said multibladed aerodynamic member is coupled to Cal 10 said tube-like means to rotate said tube-like means for the condition of said multibladed member rotating in the airstream. 7. The arrangement defined in claim 3 and further comprising:

retainer means on said tube-like means for restraining said multibladed aerodynamic member and said display means in preselected locations on said tubelike member. 8. The arrangement defined in claim7 wherein: said restraining means comprises two pair of arrowhead tab means extending from said tube-like means a preselected distance and said tab means are yieldably deformable. 9. The arrangement defined in claim 8 wherein: said multibladed aerodynamic member comprises:

four blades in a spaced apart pinwheel array and each of said four blades having a top portion and a bottom portion in spaced apart relationship; each top portion of each blade and each bottom portion of each blade having walls defining tube receiving apertures therethrough, and said tube receiving apertures in an aligned array; and said tube-like means positioned in said tube receiving apertures for restraining said multibladed member in a preselcted position thereon.

10. The arrangement defined in claim 9 wherein:

said display means has at least three planar display faces in equal lateral prismatic relationship, and each face has a top and a bottom connector portion in spaced apart relationship, and each of said top and bottom connector portions having walls defining apertures therethrough, and each of said apertures in said top and bottom connector portions in an aligned array, and said tube-like means positioned in said apertures in said top and bottom connectors for restraining said display means in a preselected location on said tube-like means.

11. The arrangement defined in claim 10 wherein:

said display means is rigidly coupled to said tube-like member for rotation therewith and vertical movement therewith.

12. The arrangement defined in claim 11 wherein:

said multibladed aerodynamic member is coupled to said tube-like means to rotate said tube-like means for the condition of said multibladed aerodynamic member rotating and thereby rotate said display device and move said tube-like means and said display device in vertical upward directions for the condition of said airstream having said minimum preselected value.

13. The arrangement defined in claim 6 wherein:

said restraining means on said tube-like means comprise a plurality of peripherally extending grooves on the external surface of said tube-like means and said plurality of grooves in spaced apart relationship.

14. The arrangement defined in claim 10 and further comprising:

a pair of stop means mounted on the rod in spaced apart relationship for limiting the vertical excursion of said multibladed aerodynamic member.

15. The arrangement defined in claim 10 wherein:

said multibladed aerodynamic member and said display means are formed into said shapes from flat sheetstock.

16. The arrangement defined in claim 15 wherein:

a first pair of said restraining means restrain said multibladed aerodynamic member and a second pair of said restraining means restraining said display means;

a first one of each of said first pair and said second pair of restraining means is adjacent opposite ends of said tube-like means and extends a first preselected distance from said external surface thereof, and the second one of each of said pair of restraining means is spaced apart from the first one and extends a second preselected distance greater than said first References Cited preselected distance from said external surface of UNITED STATES PATENTS said tube-like means;

said tube receiving apertures in said top blade por- 31225; tions of said multibladed aerodynamic member are 5 1927399 9/1933 G Odman 40 37'1 larger than said tube receiving apertures in said bot- 2637928 5/1953 Tufts 40 37"1 tom blade portions of said multibladed aerodynamic 923:088 2/1960 Peretti 40 37X member; and said apertures in said bottom connector portion of LAWRENCE CHARLES Primary Exammer said display means are larger than said apertures in l0 IU.S. Cl. X.R. said top connector portion of said display means. 46--58 

